Vegan/Vegetarian Hair Growth? (PIC)

[RavingBeauty]

I have been vegan for several years and never noticed a problem with my hair growth because I went for relaxers every 6 weeks and kept my hair in a shoulder length bob. Now I have decided to go natural and I am growing out my relaxer. After almost 9 weeks, I decided to check my new growth length. I got a measurement of about 3/4" stretched but it's really hard to be exact. Does this seem like a normal amount of growth? Any veggies out there having problems with growth rate? Anyone have any tips? Either products or dietary suggestions would be great. I will consider adding fish back into my diet but still no dairy or eggs. I just want to make the most of this transition. Thanks!!!

 

[RavingBeauty]

BTW, I am loving how healthy my hair is otherwise. I checked for splits today and could hardly find any. When I was flat ironing every day, I saw them start up about 2 weeks after a fresh trim. And I don't have to sweep the bathroom floor every day from all of the shedding and breakage. So even if my new growth isn't as long as I would like, I feel like I am doing awesome in the retention department!

 

[GodivaChocolate]

I would just make sure your getting enough protein in your diet

 

[amwcah]

Hi RavingBeauty! Everyones growth rate differs, so its really hard to say. HHG

 

[Forever in Bloom]

Where are you getting your protein from? Are you eating a lot of beans, soy, oatmeal, tofu, peanut butter, nuts ? blah

I have been a vegetarian for 2 years, but have been a vegan for an entire 12 days

...so I can't say much about the vegan part, but if anything, my hair has grown faster since cutting out meat, fish, and anything that had a mother or a face I also make sure to take all my vitamins and supplements.

I was a junkfood vegetarian for a few months out of those years, and it seemed like my growth slowed wayyyy down. I can't be sure why yours is taking its sweet time.

You're actually considering throwing fish back in there...and you've been a vegan for so long?

Before you do, consider watching this video first
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r3uGuWDlGU
There's a part in there about how consuming fish will basically make you urinate out the calcium in your body. Yikes!

 

[Mz.Shug]

I would just make sure your getting enough protein in your diet

ITA. And vitamin B12. You don't have to eat fish just take a fish oil and Omega3 supplement.HTH

 

[sunshinelady]

I just posted a thread about this a few weeks ago.

 

[sunshinelady]

I would worry less about growth and more about thinning. Keep your eye out for that.

 

[naijamerican]

Where are you getting your protein from? Are you eating a lot of beans, soy, oatmeal, tofu, peanut butter, nuts ? blah

I have been a vegetarian for 2 years, but have been a vegan for an entire 12 days

...so I can't say much about the vegan part, but if anything, my hair has grown faster since cutting out meat, fish, and anything that had a mother or a face I also make sure to take all my vitamins and supplements.

I was a junkfood vegetarian for a few months out of those years, and it seemed like my growth slowed wayyyy down. I can't be sure why yours is taking its sweet time.

You're actually considering throwing fish back in there...and you've been a vegan for so long?

Before you do, consider watching this video first
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r3uGuWDlGU
There's a part in there about how consuming fish will basically make you urinate out the calcium in your body. Yikes!

I don't want to hijack this thread (since I'm neither a vegetarian nor a vegan) but I had to tell you that the bolded made me laugh out loud.

 

[brianna-alyssa]

I have been meat free for 2 years. I was vegan for the first 5-6 months then vegetarian for the rest. &now I'm vegan again for the new year I have not noticed slowness in my growth even though as a vegetarian all I ate was pizza, cookies, & donuts. Now as a vegan, I eat much healthier. I suggest eating plenty of beans haha they are SO good.

 

[Oasis]

I personally think my hair suffered when I was a veggie. My growth stalled dramatically. I wasn't a junk food vegetarian but my diet could have been better so that might have had something to do with it.

 

[Meritamen]

I would make sure to take supplements for stuff that would be found in fish and meats that you can't get in veggies on a regular basis. You should be fine. Maybe your hair just grows at that rate. I wouldn't worry about it unless it was thinning out.

 

[RavingBeauty]

ITA. And vitamin B12. You don't have to eat fish just take a fish oil and Omega3 supplement.HTH

I actually miss fish. I don't eat tofu, tempeh, or seitan so sometimes I just want something different. I get B12 shots and I use flax oil for omega-3. I feel like an old lady sometimes with all of the supplements I take. Ugh.

 

[vkb247]

Hair doesn't always grow at the same rate all year. I know that my hair grows much slower in the winter time. I would say monitor it for awhile and then make a decision.

Either way I don't think that it is wise to make such a drastic life change for your hair. If you decide to eat fish than make sure that it is wild and not farm raised. Much of the our water is polluted so the more fish you eat the more you are exposed to mercury. I would recommend upping your greens and consider taking chlorella.

 

[mariofmagdal]

Add Chlorella/Spirulina to your supplements if you are not already taking them. Beans are excellent too.

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I don't want to hijack this thread (since I'm neither a vegetarian nor a vegan) but I had to tell you that the bolded made me laugh out loud.

I used to try to justify eating fish because they don't really have faces, they have profiles

 

[Amber_moon]

Veg here. Nope never noticed any difference in hair growth.

 

[GreenD]

Great thread!! I just started veggin out (w/the exception of fish/seafood), as that's part of my new year's resolution and so far so good. I never considered how my diet might affect my hair growth/health. It's too soon to determine how my diet has affected my hair growth as it's only been almost 2 weeks. But like another poster said, my hair grows slow in the winter, but when it warms up I'd be interested in seeing the rate my hair grows.

I need to start increasing my intake of protein shakes. I only drink them like twice a week. OP please keep us posted with your growth and diet, I'd be interested in learning a thing or two from your experience.

Thanks!

 

[blazingthru]

If you like green smoothies you will get all the protein you need from your leafy green vegs. I increased my drinks to 64 oz and saw a major change. I haven't been drinking them for a while but decided to go back full next month. You can add flax seed to it for your omega -

 

[southerncitygirl]

hope you are not a junk food veggie(soy foods) or starchatarian( fries, pasta, pizza, etc.) cause that maybe the issue. no matter what type (vegan or non) junk food is junk food and if you don't eat enough veggies, salads, fruit it will make you deficient in nutrients. though I am a meat eater(no pork, catfish or shellfish) I eat more veggies than most veggies i know and am often mistaken for being vegan. i eat about 7-10 servings of fruits and veggies daily. i get them in through green smoothies,salads, steamed veggies, juicing,and raw soups (I prepare in the blender). fermented foods like kombucha, kim chee, sauerkraut, etc. help with digestion so your body can absorb the vitamins and minerals from what you eat. I know plenty of veggies and raw vegans with gorgeous skin and hair but they stay away from junk and processed foods and have a normal to fast growth rate.


FYI: soy foods(tofu, soymilk, soy hot dogs,etc.) are processed and create health issues cause they flood the body with estrogen, if you are going to do them they should be sprouted or fermented. Examples of quality soy products include tempeh, natto, nama shoyu,etc.

 

[southerncitygirl]

I actually miss fish. I don't eat tofu, tempeh, or seitan so sometimes I just want something different. I get B12 shots and I use flax oil for omega-3. I feel like an old lady sometimes with all of the supplements I take. Ugh.

you don't have to take so many so far this year i'm trying to cut down to eating only fish (then veggie, vegan and finally high raw vegan), I only am taking evening primrose, a multi, msm and calcium. I also do green powder and typically add it to my already green smoothie. Sprouts are a great way to get extra nutrients too.

Check this book out its great for all types of eaters on healthy living from a holistic perspective. The writers are african-american and own a raw vegan restaurant in harlem. They also have some great recipes in the back section:
rawsoul.com

RAW SOUL HEALTH JOURNEY:Your personal roadmap for vibrant living and youthful aging By Lillian Butler & Eddie D. Robinson

Its $20 and its a wonderful read and has yummy recipes

 

[Fhrizzball]

3/4 inches 9 weeks sounds like a normal rate. The average is .5 inches a week with some people being more or less. Getting lots of excercise and drinking more water perhaps can help you out. When I was vegetarian (for only a year- it was a bet) I had about the same growth. Of course that was before lhcf so who knows how accurate that is.

 

[Ashleescheveux]

I became a vegetarian almost 4 years ago. After the 1st year I cut off all my hair because it was badly damaged and became natural and 3 years later Im collarbone length. Ive had PLENTY of bad trims and cuts so I consider this a good thing.

Right now Im 3 months post and I've got about 1- 1 1/2 inches of growth, so my growth rate has not changed. My hair is longer than its ever been and Im a vegetarian

 

[RavingBeauty]

you don't have to take so many so far this year i'm trying to cut down to eating only fish (then veggie, vegan and finally high raw vegan), I only am taking evening primrose, a multi, msm and calcium. I also do green powder and typically add it to my already green smoothie. Sprouts are a great way to get extra nutrients too.

Check this book out its great for all types of eaters on healthy living from a holistic perspective. The writers are african-american and own a raw vegan restaurant in harlem. They also have some great recipes in the back section:
rawsoul.com

RAW SOUL HEALTH JOURNEY:Your personal roadmap for vibrant living and youthful aging By Lillian Butler & Eddie D. Robinson

Its $20 and its a wonderful read and has yummy recipes

Raw vegan gets real old, real fast. I try do a compromise. Raw in the morning and for lunch and a regular meal at night. I juice (my fave is apple, carrot, broccoli, cucumber) and that makes an awesome start to the day. I will confess that I started going natural right after I quit my job so I probably eat a lot more pasta than I should just because I have time to cook now. And I have perfected fluffy vegan pancakes. Yum! But I eat about 3 small apples a day, broccoli slaw or cabbage slaw with vinaigrette instead of soy mayo for a good snack, some sort of bean dish or a quick veggie stir fry, or something else that I can whip up at home. I don't eat a lot of processed food and try to avoid processed soy unless I'm craving a burger or chicken sandwich. I'm allergic to shellfish but I would not be opposed to having wild caught tilapia or salmon once a week. The average vegan saves about 100 animals a year by cutting out meat and I don't wear leather, silk, wool, etc. So I refuse to feel guilty about finding and eating Nemo.

I just have never actively tried to grow my hair out so I don't know what to expect. I'll keep an eye on my progress and see if I'm not measuring properly or if it does have something to do with it being winter. a change in length is easy to see when your hair is straight, even an inch is noticeable.

Thanks everyone for your input! It is very much appreciated!

 

[GreenD]

If you like green smoothies you will get all the protein you need from your leafy green vegs. I increased my drinks to 64 oz and saw a major change. I haven't been drinking them for a while but decided to go back full next month. You can add flax seed to it for your omega -

Since I'm super new to a veggie (and fish) lifestyle, what is a green smoothie? Is it something you make, or can I buy it from the Vitamin Shoppe? I'd really like to know more, thanks!!

 

[RavingBeauty]

Since I'm super new to a veggie (and fish) lifestyle, what is a green smoothie? Is it something you make, or can I buy it from the Vitamin Shoppe? I'd really like to know more, thanks!!

You can buy a mix from your local Whole Foods (or equivalent). There are a ton of different varieties out there. If you go to Vitamin Shoppe, get Green Vibrance! It is organic. But you can also make them yourself with a blender and fresh veg and fruit. It's pretty easy, just google some recipes and play around with them until you find some that you really like or experiment on your own. I prefer to juice my veggies because I get all of the nutrition without the thickness and I can drink a much smaller amount because I don't have to add in water. (I also use the pulp of some of the vegetables for cooking) But the blender makes it easier to add in stuff that my juicer can't handle like bananas and leafy veggies. Whichever way you decide to go, I would suggest starting out with a milder or sweeter recipe so you don't get immediately turned off. Work your way up to the stronger stuff! If you don't use a mix, make sure to use the freshest produce you can get. If you can't afford all organic, try to get the most important ones like strawberries, peaches, apples, etc. You don't want to ruin your healthy drink with pesticides. Good Luck!

 

[Ltown]

Vegan, eat fish sometimes I've not had any hair loss and I'm transitioning. You really do get alot of protein from vegetables too!

 

[JinaRicci]

I actually miss fish. I don't eat tofu, tempeh, or seitan so sometimes I just want something different. I get B12 shots and I use flax oil for omega-3. I feel like an old lady sometimes with all of the supplements I take. Ugh.

Just read this & saw that you take B12 shots. If it's for a condition or to boost your energy, you might consider doing some things to increase absorption- like upping your green veggie intake.

 

[southerncitygirl]

Since I'm super new to a veggie (and fish) lifestyle, what is a green smoothie? Is it something you make, or can I buy it from the Vitamin Shoppe? I'd really like to know more, thanks!!

check out these sites for green smoothies:
greensmoothiechallenge.com
rawfamily.com
thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.com
on youtube put green smoothies or raw green smoothies in the search.

If you have a blender or magic bullet and a water filter on you tap, you're in business.

 

[Preezie]

I have been vegan for several years and never noticed a problem with my hair growth because I went for relaxers every 6 weeks and kept my hair in a shoulder length bob. Now I have decided to go natural and I am growing out my relaxer. After almost 9 weeks, I decided to check my new growth length. I got a measurement of about 3/4" stretched but it's really hard to be exact. Does this seem like a normal amount of growth? Any veggies out there having problems with growth rate? Anyone have any tips? Either products or dietary suggestions would be great. I will consider adding fish back into my diet but still no dairy or eggs. I just want to make the most of this transition. Thanks!!!

Hi RavingBeauty,

I'm not vegan or vegitarian by any means, but I eat more veggies, grains, and legumes than meat or meat by products. Do you eat beans? I don't do a lot of pasta because of the starch and empty calories for me, but the protein in beans is amazing for hair growth. I also drink homemade green "smoothies" about 5 days a week that consist of kale, spinach, romaine, water and 100% fruit juice (just so i can get it down). I also put flax seed or flax seed oil into my oatmeal. It helps a lot with so many things.